The Naval Resources of the United States and the British Empire—A Comparison

Captain A. Mahan, of the United States navy, has )ointed out in his celebrated work on the influence of ea power in history, that a preponderance of naval jower has been the controlling element which has ul-imately brought victory to the nation that possessed t. His conclusions are largely based upon the Euro-ean wars of the time of Nelson, and the late civil war in America.
In view of recent startling and ominous develop-nents in the diplomatic relations of this country and Jreat Britain, it will be, we think, timely and inter-ssting to inquire into the present status of the navies )f the two countries, and also to inquire as to what ire the battleship-building resources possessed by aeh. It should be noted that in the subjoined tables account is taken of ships that possess a speed of ess than 1% knots per hour, or that are armed with )bsolete smooth bore guns. Ships that are building, ut within measurable distance of completionsuch, 'or instance, as the Iowaare included in the follow-ug tabulation:
FIRST-CLASS BATTLESHIPS OF THE LINE.
Average dis- Average Belt Total die-Total number. placem nt. speed. armor, placement. Jnited States 4 ships. 10,568 tons. 16-42 knots. 18 in. 48,274 tone. Jreat Britain. 29 " 13,000 " 1747 " 18 " 376,900 "
SECOND-CLASS BATTLESHIPS.
Jnited States 3 ships. 5,703 tons. 16-7 knote. 18 in. , 17,110 tone. 3reat Britain. 12 " 9,508 " 1368 " Hto24 " 114,030 "
THIRD-CLASS BATTLESHIPS.
Jnited States 5 ships. 4,404 tons. 11-9 knots. 7 to 12 in. 22.020 tone. 3reat Britain. 11 " 7,075 " 13-43 " 8tol2 " 77,820 "
COAST DEFENSE BATTLESHIPS.
Jnited StatesThe 6 knot boat ar med with smooth bore guns are reckoned as obsolete. Jreat Britain. 13 ships. 4,040 tons. 11 knote. 8 to 12 in. 52,530 tons.
TOTAL BATTLESHIPS OF ALL CLASSES.
Jnited States..........12 ships, with a total displacement of 81,404 tone.
Jreat Britain.......... 65 " " " " "621,280 "
In estimating the relative strength of the two navies the above table, it must be borne in mind that ;he basis for comparison should be the total displace-nent, rather than the total number of ships. Displace-nent is the capital which the naval designer has to go ; and if he make a judicious distribution of weights, he will always produce the more effective ighting machine out of the bigger ship. It a 10,000 ton and a 15,000 ton ship carry the same armament, :he larger vessel will carry that armament more steadily, more speeaily, with greater command, and, jwing to the wider separation of the individual gun (tations, with less exposure to disablement of guns and ?rew. Estimated on this basis, Great Britain possesses i superiority of fighting power in first-class ships-of-the line of 9 to 1. In battleships of all classes the superiority is 7% to 1.
FIBST-CLASe ARMORED AND PROTECTED CRUISERS.
(Of 20 knote speed and upward.)
Average dis- Average Total die-Total nnmber. placement. speed. placement. United States. 5 ships 7,700 tons 21 9 knote 38,500 tone 3reat Britain... 9 " 9,233 " 21-0 " 83,100 "
FIRST-CLASS ARMORED AND PROTECTED RUISERS.
(Of 19Ji knote and under.)
United States., none
3reat Britain... 21 ships 7,581 tone 17 knote 159,200 tons SECOND AND THIBD CLASS PROTECTED CRUISERS.
United States .. 14 shipe 3,288 tons 18-23 knots 46,028 tons SreatBritain .. 60 " 3,828 " 19-20 " 229,605 "
LOOKOUT CRUISERS.
United States .. 5 ships 1,519 tons 1673 knote 7,593 tons
3reat Britain... 19 " 1,907 " 17'00 " 36,240 "
GUNBOATS.
United States .. 1 ehipe 1,007 tons 16-00 knote 7,300 tons
3reat Britain... 34 " 841" 1900 " 28,580 "
TOTAL CRUISERS OF . CLASSES.
United States........... 31 ships, with a total displacement of 99,421 tons.
SreatBritain............143 " " " " "536,725 "
Estimated, as before, on the basis of displacement, this table shows a preponderance for Great Britain in cruisers of 5 to 1.
Of merchant steamers which are built to meet the naval requirements for conversion into cruisers, the United States have 4 and Great Britain 26.
TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS BUILT AND BUILDING.
Number. Displacement. Speed.
united States..... -
Qreat Britain..... 62 250 tons. 88 knot.
TORPEDO BOATS.
united States.........................................................10
Qreat Britain........................................................166
By displacement, the preponderance in torpedo boats is 40 to L

This article was originally published with the title "The Naval Resources of the United States and the British Empire&mdash;A Comparison"

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